Fun [ NEWS OF THE WEIRD ] BY CHUCK SHEPHERD Caribou Baby, a Brooklyn, N.Y., “eco-friendly maternity, baby and lifestyle store,” has recently been hosting gatherings at which parents exchange tips on “elimination communication” — the weaning of infants without benefit of diapers (as reported in April by the New York Times). Parents watch for cues, such as a certain “cry or grimace” that supposedly signals that the tot urgently needs to be hoisted onto a potty. (Eventually, they say, the potty serves to cue the baby.) Dealing with diapers is so unpleasant, they say, that cleaning an occasional mess becomes tolerable. The little darlings’ public appearances sometimes call for diapers, but can also be dealt with by taking the baby behind the nearest tree. One parent even admitted, “I have absolutely been at parties and witnessed people putting their baby over the sink.”
Can’t Possibly Be True
-- Washington, D.C.’s WRC-TV reported in March that a woman from the Maryland suburbs showed a reporter a traffic citation she had just received, ticketing her for driving in the left lane on Interstate 95 in Laurel while going only 63 mph -- compared to the posted (“maximum”) speed of 65. The citation read, “Failure of driver ... to keep right.” The station’s meteorologist noted that winds that day were gusting to 40 mph and that the woman might simply have been trying to control her car. -- The principal and head teacher at a Godalming, England, special-needs school were reported by employees in March for allowing a student with selfharm issues to cut herself, under staff supervision. (Unsted Park School enrolls
kids aged 7 to 19 who have high-functioning autism.) Teachers were to hand the girl a sterilized blade, wait outside a bathroom while she acted out, checking up on her at two-minute intervals, and then dress the girl’s wounds once she had finished. The school reportedly abandoned the policy six days after implementing it. -- Last year, according to Chicago’s WBBM-TV, Palmen Motors in Kenosha, Wis., sold a brand-new GMC Terrain SUV to an elderly couple, 90 and 89, in which the husband was legally blind and in hospice care, on morphine, and the wife had dementia and could barely walk. According to the couple’s daughter, it was her brother, David McMurray, who wanted the SUV but could not qualify financially and so drove his mother from Illinois to Kenosha to sign the documents while a Palmen employee traveled to Illinois to get the father’s signature (three weeks before he passed away, it turns out). An attorney for Palmen Motors told the TV station that the company regretted its role and would buy the vehicle back.
Democracy Blues
-- The city council of Oita, Japan, refused to seat a recently elected member because he refused to remove the mask he always wears in public. Professional wrestler “Skull Reaper A-ji” said his fans would not accept him as authentic if he strayed from his character. Some masked U.S. wrestlers, and especially the popular Mexican “lucha libre” wrestlers, share the sentiment. (At press time, the issue was apparently still unresolved in Oita.)
[ LAST WEEK’S SOLUTION ON PAGE 39 ]
[ LOVESCOPE ] BY EUGENIA LAST ARIES (March 21-April 19): You’ll meet someone, but you must ask specific questions to find out their current status. You’ll be subject to changing your mind, so take any relationship you consider getting into slowly. Honesty will lead to a good friendship and the possibility of a long-term commitment. TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Put a little pressure on someone if you want to get to know him or her better. Making plans that are hard to resist will intrigue and entice that special person. That followed by a chance to see how you live firsthand should seal the deal. GEMINI (May 21-June 20): False impressions along with ulterior motives are present. Keep your distance from anyone you feel is not telling you the
truth or is offering you something that is too good to be true. Make sure you are upfront about your situation and living arrangements as well. CANCER (June 21-July 22): Participation will be your entry into interesting conversations, opportunities and emotional relationships. Share your dreams, hopes and wishes, and someone will want to work toward the same goals. Personal stability and security can be yours to share with someone just as loving and caring as you. LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Your generosity will attract someone eager to move into an intimate relationship. Before you make a commitment, consider your motives. Slow down, test the waters and keep your eyes open for
someone less needy or demanding. VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Work on friendships and get to know the ins and outs of anyone who interests you before you give an inkling that you may want more. Deception and disillusionment are apparent, and you are likely to be disappointed if you jump into an intimate relationship too quickly. LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Love at first sight will tempt you. Before jumping into a situation that appears perfect, question your motives. If you are tired of being alone or unhappy with someone you are currently with, you may be willing to overlook whether this new relationship is feasible. SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Don’t let love cost you. Back away from anyone offering you everything
without actually giving you anything. Deception and disillusionment are present and will leave you in a vulnerable position -- should you believe what you are being told. Don’t get angry; do a background check. SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): You’ll have an opportunity to become intimate with someone from a different background than you. Before you travel down that path, go over what you have in common and what you don’t. Tradition and family issues are likely to arise. Be sure it’s worth it before you engage. CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Your bravado and confidence will attract attention and entice someone who wants to be taken care of emotionally, physically and financially. Make sure
this is what you want and that you get something worthwhile in return. A lack of equality will wear thin pretty fast. AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Love and romance are highlighted, and socializing will lead to a change in the way you live. You can reconnect with someone from your past, or you will discover you have feelings for someone you least expect. An unusual relationship will capture your interest and your heart. PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): Easy does it. What you think you are getting and what you end up with will not be the same. Trying to be something you are not or expecting someone else to be more like you will cause problems down the road. Avoid overindulgent partners. rochestercitynewspaper.com CITY 43